What size tires for 16 x 7.5 wheels?

[rwh11385]

Yup, I'm going for the 205/50 G-Force Sports. 225 would be a nice width, but 45 is too short of a sidewall. With some of the roads around here, more sidewall is nice to protect the rims from potholes, etc, and they'll also fill the wheel wells a little more.

LOL

[Jand3rson]

Did I say something funny?

[rwh11385]

extremely fucking funny.


well not really.
but it's clear you don't understand what the 225-45-16 means/stands for


it's one of those things that is funny because someone misintrepets and you know more than them. a dick like me enjoys this shit, but it's okay because i would expect someone who has been around for this long, and hell, a moderator would understand tire sizing.... if you were a complete n00b to cars, or a woman, my behavior and laughter would be kinda of an asshole move. but rather it's deserved

[Jand3rson]

So how about you take a break from being a dick, and take 30 seconds to do what you're always trying to tell me you do in the tech sections of this forum, and explain it to me.

If that's not asking too much, of course. :up:

I thought that the 2xx number was the width of the tire, and the second two-digit number was the sidewall height.

[rwh11385]

It's called aspect ratio. The sidewall height is determined by BOTH the first two numbers.

It's the reason a 205-55-15 tire and a 225-50-15 tire has the same sidewall height (and the same goes for a 225/45-16 and 205/50-16...)

A 205-50-15 has .4in less of sidewall each way compared to a 205-55-15, and undersized about 3%. In order to have a shorter sidewall, it has to be undersized. All same diameter tires will have about the same sidewall height for the same wheel diameter (duh). A 205-50-15 has the same sidewall height as a 225-45-16.


http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html calculates the sidewall to be 4.0 inches for both a 225-45-16 and a 205-50-16. The overall diameter is .1 in different, so the difference in sidewall you seem so concerned about is .05 inches.

[Jand3rson]

Cool. So the only difference is going to be a negligible difference in the width of the tire, that of which will probably not even be noticed on sight, let alone while driving.

[Borat]

FWIW I reckon my 205/50 16 on 7.5" rim looked streched. just enough to be annoying. IMHO go 225, as someone said that extra contact patch could save your ass one day.

[rwh11385]

You could listen to Heeter over there and get 205's, but I'd still run 225's. There's no denying the extra contact patch will aid in braking, and sometimes the 3ft saved will save your car.

Even though that's your advice and I can see your point, what's the ultimate conclusion? Everyone should be running stickiest tires with low treadwear to improve stopping times? And running ultra high performance pads?

205-50-16 like I've run stopped plenty quick and had much more tire than anything stock. You said it yourself good tires compared to his old ones would be like flypaper and he has managed to avoid rear ending someone on those. A 205-50-16 gforce sports will be better than some poor old all seasons on bottlecaps which is what most cars start with.

Also, going 10 mph slower will give you a lot greater reduction in braking time, as would paying attention, being a defensive driver and looking ahead. Even moreso would be knowing how to thesold brake and be the most effective braker.

There are many factors going into braking distances and other aspects of the car and by no means are 205-50-16 not up to par. Hell, my PO used that size to Auto-X with.

[vt.bimmer]

Definately go 225/45 I can tell you now that there is a good chance you will be unhappy with 205/50 and there is no way in hell you will be unhappy with 225/45

[arsevader]

FWIW I reckon my 205/50 16 on 7.5" rim looked streched. just enough to be annoying. IMHO go 225, as someone said that extra contact patch could save your ass one day.

The contact patch on a 225 tire isn't going to be any bigger than the 205 it's just going to be wider.

[redhatpat]

The contact patch on a 225 tire isn't going to be any bigger than the 205 it's just going to be wider.

Huh? Did you mean the contact patch won't be longer, just wider? That's still bigger.

FWIW, I'd go for the 225s. If you've spent some coin for bigger wheels, why just go up one small size from stock? 195 -> 205? Though the decrease in sidewall height will be pretty good for handling.

[nando]

I'd rather have a good 205 than a cheap 225 any day.

[arsevader]

Huh? Did you mean the contact patch won't be longer, just wider? That's still bigger.

No I mean't that unles the weight of the vehicle changes or you go with a lower pressure the contact patch area usually doesn't get any larger, it gets wider and narrower though. This is the more important factor of going with wider tires, the shape of the contact patch.

This leads to the better handling (up to point) of wider tires along with stiffer sidewalls.

[Jand3rson]

I'd rather have a good 205 than a cheap 225 any day.

My thinking as well. I called TireRack today, and the guy told me that the width of the tire is actually quite wide, and with 205/45's on a 7.5" rim, he said that he'd be pretty surprised if they didn't still look square.

[Mystikal]

Even though that's your advice and I can see your point, what's the ultimate conclusion? Everyone should be running stickiest tires with low treadwear to improve stopping times? And running ultra high performance pads?

Um, yeah. Why not?

205-50-16 like I've run stopped plenty quick and had much more tire than anything stock. You said it yourself good tires compared to his old ones would be like flypaper and he has managed to avoid rear ending someone on those. A 205-50-16 gforce sports will be better than some poor old all seasons on bottlecaps which is what most cars start with.

Also, going 10 mph slower will give you a lot greater reduction in braking time, as would paying attention, being a defensive driver and looking ahead. Even moreso would be knowing how to thesold brake and be the most effective braker.

There are many factors going into braking distances and other aspects of the car and by no means are 205-50-16 not up to par. Hell, my PO used that size to Auto-X with.

Yes, the BFGs will provide better performance than he ever had before. Yes, improving driving habits will also aid in safety. In end, the wider tire is still a benefit.

You'll be plenty happy with the G-Force Sports, Josh. Just take it easy in the wet, they don't really like sealed concrete much.